It just took one spell of rain to wash away the claims of quality infrastructure on Besa-Pipla road. Before the monsoon has even arrived in full force, stretches near the Blinkit store and Vandan lawn have turned into pools of stagnant water, exposing a drainage system that appears to have been designed to fail rather than function. The irony is impossible to miss. The newly constructed side drains stand at a higher level than the adjoining road and paver blocks, leaving rain water nowhere to flow. Instead of carrying water away, the drains remain ineffective while roads become water-logged, forcing commuters, pedestrians and residents to wade through stagnant water. Residents claim that this is not just a case of inconvenience but a glaring example of poor planning, inadequate technical supervision and questionable execution of public works.

 

Basic engineering principles dictate that drains should facilitate the natural flow of water. When they are constructed above road levels, the very purpose of the project is defeated. Rushikant Raut, Executive Engineer, Public Works Department (PWD) Division 2, contradicted the claims stating that the side drains are set to make the water reach the drainage through pipes, if not, the water would accumulate in the area. “The side drains set above 20cm will give water the path needed to reach the drainage and help clear the waterlogging in the area which would help avoid trouble to the residents and commuters.” Despite all the measures taken to stop the waterlogging, If a moderate shower can cripple the road, the situation during peak monsoon is likely to be far worse, leading to traffic jams, accidents, mosquito breeding, and damage to public infrastructure.

 

Citizens pay taxes expecting roads that can withstand the rains, not projects that collapse at the first test of nature. Every year crores of rupees are spent on civic development, yet the same problems of waterlogging and poor drainage continue to plague growing localities like Besa-Pipla. The recurring failures point towards a lack of planning, weak supervision and the absence of accountability. The water stagnation on Besa-Pipla Road is more than a seasonal issue -- it is a reminder that infrastructure should be judged by its performance, not by its appearance. The PWD must initiate an immediate technical audit and corrective measures before heavier rains expose even bigger failures.